2

                   I pulled the car near an old building. It has been a year since Ivan bought a woman for himself. It was more important than fulfilling his needs. Ivan's guess took us to the information. We were able to track her brothel houses and freed some hundred women in these past months. 

     Willow gave out every single piece of information she remembered during her training. I didn't want to go into detail. It could be painful for most of the people. 

     "This place is safe. It's not a high society area but a reputed one. She'll be safe here." Pete said. 

      I darted my gaze around. The parking lot wasn't fully empty at this time of the weekend, the swimming pool was going under the cleaning process. The playground was busy with kids and some couples sitting on their mats. 

      Someone caught my attention when she wiped her cheeks. The new forming tears rolled down immediately. I felt my heart beating in my chest. My hands tightened on the steering wheel seeing her in pain. Her lower lip was trembling as she fought back her pain seeing parents and kids. 

      I wondered what it could be. If they were in her eyes because of a boyfriend I would end his life. I was suddenly feeling possessive. 

     "It's her. Willow will share the apartment with her." Pete said. 

     "And?" I growled, not looking away. I wanted to know the reason for the tears in her eyes. I could move the mountains to fill her life with happiness. 

     "She lost her mother a week ago. She's staying alone in her apartment. Her bills are still pending. She didn't inquire much and agreed to give us her spare room on rent." 

      It infuriated me. She was staying alone. If Willow is going to stay here. It would give me many chances to see her. Well, I don't need excuses. I just don't want her to notice me. People know us and fear us. They turn their path if we choose that one to walk. 

      "Alright, Pete. I want to know everything before evening." I peeled my gaze off her and beckoned him to go back to his car. 

     "Before evening. Boss?" He bowed and climbed down the car. 

     I turned to look at her. My head was already planning how to kill her se* partners. 

     After staring at her until she returned to her apartment, I pulled out of the lot.

     I came back to my house. Her information was already waiting for me on the desk. I wanted to read it without any trouble, resting in the comfort of my bed. 

      I went into the hall. Marcus was already seated and making himself a drink. He poured another glass at my sight. 

      "Eight girls were kidnapped last night. All are underage." Marcus sipped from his glass. 

      I strode forward. I ran my finger on the rim of my glass watching the waves crashing. I could still imagine her sitting on the bench, wiping her cheeks. I wanted my hand to wipe them away, for forever. I just wanted to give her reason after reason to smile. 

      "At least, we know her name." Ivan said, tugging Willow to his side. This love bird has changed the atmosphere of our house. 

      "Alice," Marcus said, venomously. "I wouldn't mind slicing her in pieces. I'm already looking for a female assassin. But no problem, I would do it myself.

      "You can borrow my things." I told him. He always loved my blades when it was about torture. 

      I heard moans behind me. "Get a room," I snapped. 

      She was still scared of us and picked not to say a word in our presence, most of the time.   

      "Two guards will always be there and I'll visit every day." Ivan muttered to her. 

     "I'll make sure he never looks at another woman. I'll beat the hell out of him and haul him to your door." Marcus smirked. 

      She grinned. "I trust him." She could stay here as long as she wanted. But Ivan's father could be trouble for his happiness. To calm the storm between father and son we decided that Willow would stay away from our world until Ivan controlled every corner of his father's territory. 

      "Brothers, I need your attention." Ivan said. We address each other like this only when there's something essential. 

      "If you're showing us...." Marcus stopped and a big grin appeared on his face reaching his eyes. It was near to the sight when Sylvia agreed to wed him. "Fuck!" He exclaimed happily. 

      I turned, lifting my finger off the rim. A smile tugged on my face. Ivan was on his knee, he was grasping a red velvet box. "Thank you." He muttered to us and turned to Willow, grinning. 

     She was looking down at him with her big glassy eyes and a full smile on her face. Her hand was on her heart. 

     "Willow, in the presence of my brothers, I ask you to be my wife. Will you carry my children?" He asked her, smiling. 

     That would be the sweetest thing that happened to her. Her happy tears reminded me of her sad tears. What could be the reason? Was she still mourning her mother? Or her boyfriend left her? 

     "Yes," Willow's cracked but happy voice pulled me back into reality. 

     Getting on her knees in front of him, she stared into his eyes and nodded her head. She threw her arms around his neck. "I love you."

     "I love you too, sweetheart." 

      Marcus whistled next to me. "Congratulations!" He said in a sing-song voice. 

     I chuckled and clapped my hand on his shoulder. He glanced at me and the sadness behind his smile was noticeable. He was missing her. 

     "We're close." I told him. Soon, we'd catch her and she would pay for taking away her life. 

      Feeling unexpected silence around us, I glanced at them. They were looking at us. 

      They were still on their knees facing each other but their eyes were on me. Ivan arched his eyebrows at me. 

      I cleared my throat. "Welcome to the family, Willow." I grabbed my glass and raised it.

     Marcus clinked his glass with mine and downed it in a big gulp. 

     "Thank you, brothers." Ivan got on his feet and extended his hand to help her on her feet. 

     I saw the big diamond gleaming on her ring finger. Would she like big diamonds or a simple platinum band or a golden one? I didn't know a thing about her yet. But soon she'd be here. I smiled and downed it. 

      "Oh, you smiled. What's the victory you're seeing?" Marcus asked, wiggling his brows. 

     "You're drunk. Let's get you to your room." I put the glass on the counter. 

     "We're off. Congratulations once again." He shouted gleefully as he got on his feet. Marcus stumbled and I gripped his biceps. 

      Willow looked hesitant. "Thank you. I thought you won't accept me." Willow lowered her gaze. She's scared of us but comfortable with our brother. It's good. 

      "Why wouldn't we?" Marcus let out a hollow chuckle. He didn't mean to scare her but her face whitened. "Look at that big smile of my brother." He pointed at him with his finger. 

     "Marcus, are you okay?" Ivan looked worried. 

     "He's fine. We're happy for you." I curled my arm around his shoulder and pulled him out of the hall with me. 

     Ivan extended his steps but I held my hand up. We strode out of the hall. I felt his head resting on my shoulder. "Who's she? I saw that look in your eyes back there?" He asked. 

      "I just saw her today." I told him as we took the stairs to his room. We have our mansions but we also have our wings in every house. 

      "Let me guess. Her file is already waiting for you on your desk." He chuckled. 

      My smirk answered him. Turning, we strode over to his door. I grabbed the knob and opened it.

     "I'll walk." He tried to walk straight to the mattress and plopped down. 

     I spun to leave his room. "Good night."

     "I have a feeling I'll cry," My feet halted. I still remember seeing him in pain. It hurts. 

     "We can talk until you fall asleep." I told him, looking at him over my shoulder. 

     "I'm going to repeat things." He warned me. He would talk non-stop about Sylvia. 

     "I won't mind." I walked in and hauled the chair with me over to the mattress. 

      "Lia," He spoke as he was caressing her name. "You remember? Seeing her in the club that night? I thought she'd pick you. But… " He grinned fully. 

      I don't know how to push the pain from his voice. This is the place where our power doesn't work. I remember that day. I saw the same look in his eyes - full of love for her. She felt the same for him. I stepped back. "Yes, you were crazy about her."

    "I'm still crazy about her, man. I wanted to marry her. I wanted her to hold our baby." He let out a sad chuckle.

    "Have you thought of moving on? Maybe an arranged marriage?" I suggested, though I knew he wouldn't go with it. 

    "I love her. I'll see your face the day you'll fall in love with your mysterious girl and you'll confess your love for her. That day! That day, brother. You'll realize my feelings." I told him. 

    "I don't need to fall in love to feel your pain. We're together the day we opened our eyes in this fucking world. Love doesn't exist. We take what we like. It's simple."

   "Let the time pass. We'll talk that day." He winked at me. 

   I chuckled and shook my head. I never see myself in his situation. She'll be mine, the day she'll be ready.